C11 chord on guitar

C Dominant Eleventh. Notes: C, E, G, Bb, D and F.

C11 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 1×3CR2E34Bbb71CR1F11CEBbCF
Barre at fret 1 · Medium

How to play C11

  1. Lay your index finger flat across the 2nd (B) to the 1st (high E) string at fret 1. This is the barre.
  2. Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).
  3. Put your ring finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 3 (C).
  4. Put your pinky finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 3 (Bb).
  5. Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
  6. Strum from the A string down.
Lowest note: C (the root)Strings played: 5 of 6Other voicings: 3 below

All 4 ways to play C11

Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.
C11 guitar chord, barre at fret 1×3CR2E34Bbb71CR1F11CEBbCF

Barre at fret 1

Medium
C11 guitar chord, barre at fret 33fr×1CR1F111Bbb73E31G5CFBbEG

Barre at fret 3

Medium
C11 guitar chord, barre at fret 66fr3CR2E31F111Bbb7CEDGFBb

Barre at fret 6

Medium
C11 guitar chord, barre at fret 88fr1CR1F111Bbb72E31G51CRCFBbEGC

Barre at fret 8

Hard

Notes and theory

Croot
E3 · major third
G5 · perfect fifth
Bbb7 · minor seventh
D9 · ninth
F11 · eleventh

The eleventh chord stacks thirds up to the eleventh. On guitar the third is often left out so the eleventh does not clash. The formula is 1 3 5 b7 9 11.

More C chords

All C guitar chords

dominant eleventh chords in every key

Questions

What notes are in the C11 chord?

C11 (C dominant eleventh) is made of six notes: C (root), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), Bb (minor seventh), D (ninth) and F (eleventh).

How do you play C11 on guitar?

The easiest C11 is the "barre at fret 1" shape. Lay your index finger flat across the 2nd (B) to the 1st (high E) string at fret 1. This is the barre. Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E). Put your ring finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 3 (C).

Is C11 hard to play on guitar?

C11 has no open-string shape, so every version needs a barre or a stretch. The easiest one is rated medium.

What does a dominant eleventh chord sound like?

The eleventh chord stacks thirds up to the eleventh. On guitar the third is often left out so the eleventh does not clash.